Apparatus and method for working plastic material and container for fluid product

ABSTRACT

A container comprises container body means ( 2   a ) arranged for containing a fluid product ( 3 ) and pipe means ( 15 ) arranged for controlling distribution of said product ( 3 ) from said container ( 2 ), said pipe means ( 15 ) defining a non-rectilinear path ( 21 ) for said product ( 3 ), said path ( 21 ) extending along substantially progressively decreasing sections of said pipe means ( 15 ); an apparatus for producing containers ( 2 ) provided with container body means ( 2   a ) arranged for containing a fluid product ( 3 ) and pipe means ( 15 ) arranged for controlling distribution of said product ( 3 ) from said container body means ( 2   a ), comprises thermoforming mould means ( 11 ) arranged for thermoforming first film means ( 4 ) and second film means ( 5 ) of thermoformable material for defining in said pipe means ( 15 ) a curvilinear path ( 21 ); a method for producing containers ( 2 ) comprises thermoforming thermoformable sheet material ( 4, 5 ) for defining in said containers ( 2 ) container body means ( 2   a ) arranged for containing a fluid product ( 3 ) and pipe means ( 15 ) arranged for controlling thermoforming for defining in said containers ( 2 ) container body means ( 15 ) arranged for controlling distribution of said product ( 3 ) from said containers ( 2 ), said thermoforming comprising defining in said pipe means ( 15 ) a curvilinear path ( 21 ).

[0001] The invention relates to apparatus and method for producingcontainers by working plastic material, the containers being arrangedfor containing a fluid product.

[0002] Containers are known obtained by thermo-forming a sheet material,for example a film of plastic material, arranged for containing a fluidor semi-fluid product, which may be poured through a suitable pouringoutlet of the container.

[0003] These containers are opened by removing therefrom an end portionof container so as to obtain an opening in said containers.

[0004] These containers have a drawback consisting in that once theyhave been opened they can not be closed again and therefore an undesiredpouring may take place, so causing a certain consumption of saidproduct. Furthermore, outflow of product may cause soiling of parts ofthe body and/or clothes of a user as well as of the region surroundingthe container.

[0005] International patent application WO 95/12531 discloses acontainer suitable for being closed again, comprising a container bodyarranged for containing a fluid product and a self-closing valvearranged for allowing said product to be poured, once the container hasbeen opened, only when a pressure is applied by a user on the walls ofthe container body.

[0006] In particular, the aforesaid patent application discloses a firstversion of container comprising a valve in which a first film and asecond film define a duct through which the product is distributed.

[0007] The first film constitutes a hemispherical dome facing the secondfilm, which, on the contrary, is substantially undeformed so as to forma substantially flat portion.

[0008] During pouring, the fluid product may flow out from the containerpassing through the duct defined between the hemispherical dome and theunderlying flat portion. After pouring, the user has to deform thehemispherical dome, substantially flattening it, by applying on thehemispherical dome a slight pressure in order to bring the first film incontact with the second film, so causing the duct to be closed.

[0009] Therefore, the container described in WO 95/12531 can not beclosed again without intervention of the user.

[0010] International patent application WO 95/12531 further discloses asecond version of container in which the distribution valve is providedwith a pipe suitable for allowing the product to flow out, said pipebeing defined by a first film and a second film which, as previouslydescribed, in a distributing position, are arranged so as to constitute,respectively, a dome and a flat portion. In a closing position, on thecontrary, the first film may be deformed so that the dome, havinginitially a convex profile towards the outside of the container,constitutes a concave portion which may be received into a suitablerecess obtained from a simultaneously deformation of the second film.

[0011] In this manner, the valve hermetically closes the container, sopreventing the product from being distributed even in the case in whicha certain pressure is applied on the walls of the container body.

[0012] International patent application WO 99/10252 discloses acontainer obtained by thermoforming a sheet material and comprising aclosing valve arranged for allowing the product contained in thecontainer to be poured in a partial and deferred manner.

[0013] The container comprises a lower, relatively thick, film having ashaped profile so as to define a container body and an upper filmthinner than the lower film and arranged in substantially flat position.The lower film and the upper film are welded along the border of thecontainer.

[0014] At one end of the shaped film there is a region comprising aplurality of recesses mutually separated by protuberances arrangedtherebetween. The upper film and the protuberance cooperate for formingthe closing valve preventing the product contained in the container frombeing distributed when no force acts on the aforesaid container body.

[0015] Working of the valve is substantially based on the deformabilityof the upper sheet: in fact, once the pressure which caused pouring ofthe product is finished, the upper sheet is forced to penetrate, atleast partially, into each one of the recesses, so being in contact withthe protuberances arranged therebetween and thus preventing the productfrom further flowing out.

[0016] A drawback of the above mentioned containers is that theirproduction is very complicated.

[0017] Obtaining substantially hemispherical recesses and domes is, infact, quite difficult and may remarkably compromise the productivity ofthe plants arranged for producing such containers.

[0018] Furthermore, in case of containers made with a pair of filmshaving different thickness, problems can take place connected todifferences of thermal expansions which make problematic coupling thefilms.

[0019] An object of the invention is to improve containers obtained bythermoforming and provided with a controlling valve for distributing aproduct contained therein.

[0020] A further object of the invention is to obtain a thermoformedcontainer in which a valve may be easily obtained suitable foreffectively controlling the flow of product through a distributing pipe.

[0021] A further object of the invention is to obtain an apparatus and amethod for producing thermoformed containers provided with a controllingvalve For distributing a fluid product contained therein.

[0022] In a first aspect of the invention, a container is providedpreferably obtained by thermoforming a first film and a second film ofthermoformable material, comprising container body means arranged forcontaining a fluid product and pipe means arranged for controllingdistribution of said product from said container, characterized in thatsaid pipe means defines a non-rectilinear path for said product alongprogressively decreasing sections of said pipe means.

[0023] In an advantageous version, the first film defines a firstconcave portion of said pipe means, whereas the second film may define asecond concave portion of said pipe means extending internally to saidfirst portion.

[0024] In a second aspect of the present invention, a container isprovided, comprising container body means arranged for containing afluid product and pipe means arranged for controlling distribution ofsaid product from said container, characterized in that, said pipe meanscomprises a first concave portion and a second concave portion, saidsecond concave portion extending internally to said first concaveportion.

[0025] Owing to these aspects of the invention, it is possible to obtaina container provided with pipe means which define valve means suitablefor controlling outflow of a fluid product.

[0026] The pipe means preferably define a curvilinear path along which,at the end of the distribution of the product, a small bubble of air issucked back from the external environment into the container; suchbubble of air is trapped between the pipe means so opposing undesiredoutflows of product.

[0027] Furthermore, as the pipe means has a section having a very Littlesurface extension and the fluid product flows with friction on the wallsof said pipe means, pouring is very difficult, if not absolutelyprevented, even in case in which the air bubble has penetrated into thecontainer body means and therefore does not further oppose the passageof the product through the pipe means.

[0028] It has been verified that the pipe means according to theinvention prevents dripping or loss of product even in case of highlyfluid product.

[0029] Since the liquid outflow inhibiting effect is not due to contactbetween the two films constituting the valve means, but is achieved byforming pipe means sufficiently narrow and having walls which areconstantly separated by a pre-established distance, it is not necessaryto use film of different thickness, and in particular thin films, inorder to have high deformability.

[0030] That allows to remarkably simplify the producing process sincefilm of any thickness may be used, particularly films having thicknessequal to each other, which may be simultaneously thermoformed by meansof a single apparatus.

[0031] In a third aspect of the invention, an apparatus for producingcontainers is provided, comprising thermoforming means arranged forthermoforming first film means and second film means of thermoformablematerial for obtaining said containers, characterized in that saidthermoforming means comprises forming mould means arranged for obtaininginto said containers pipe means having a non-rectilinear path suitablefor inhibiting undesired outflows of product after opening.

[0032] In a fourth aspect of the present invention, an apparatus forproducing containers is provided, comprising thermoforming meansarranged for thermoforming thermoformable sheet material for obtainingsaid containers, characterized in that said thermoforming meanscomprises forming mould means provided with a protruding elementarranged for deforming said thermoformable sheet material.

[0033] In an advantageous version, the thermoforming mould meanscomprises first half-mould means provided with at least one cavityarranged for deforming the first film in order to obtain a first concaveportion of said pipe means, and preferably, second half-mould meansprovided with at least a protruding element arranged for deforming thesecond film in order to obtain a second concave portion of said pipemeans, said second concave portion extending internally to said at leastone cavity.

[0034] Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to obtainan apparatus allowing to effectively produce containers provided withpipe means acting also as distributing valve arranged for controllingoutflow of a fluid product from said containers. Such apparatus issuitable for simultaneously working a pair of films of any thickness bythermo-welding and thermoforming said films in order to obtain thedesired containers.

[0035] In a fifth aspect of the invention, a method for producingcontainers is provided, comprising thermoforming thermoformable sheetmaterial for defining in said containers container body means arrangedfor containing a fluid product and pipe means arranged for controllingdistribution of said product from said containers, characterized in thatsaid thermoforming comprises defining in said pipe means anon-rectilinear path suitable for inhibiting undesired outflows ofproduct after opening.

[0036] In an advantageous version, said defining comprises obtaining inthe pipe means a first concave portion and a second concave portion ofsaid sheet material extending into said first concave portion.

[0037] Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to obtain amethod for producing containers provided with pipe means acting also asdistributing valve arranged for controlling outflow of a fluid productfrom said containers.

[0038] The invention may be better understood and carried out withreference to the enclosed drawings, which show some exemplifying and notlimiting embodiments thereof, in which:

[0039]FIG. 1 is a sketched view taken along a vertical plane of apre-heating station, of a welding station and of a forming station of anapparatus according to the invention;

[0040]FIG. 2 is a front view of the welding and forming stations of FIG.1 in which respectively a welding half-mould and a forming half-mouldhave been removed;

[0041]FIG. 3 is a detail sectioned along a vertical and broken plane ofa welding mould of the apparatus according to the invention;

[0042]FIG. 4 is a detail sectioned along a vertical plane of a formingmould of the apparatus according to the invention;

[0043]FIG. 5 is a front view of a container according to the invention;

[0044]FIG. 6 is a side view of a container according to the invention;

[0045]FIG. 7 is an enlarged and sectioned detail of distributing valvemeans of a container according to the invention;

[0046]FIG. 8 is an enlarged and sectioned detail as that of FIG. 7,showing a variation.

[0047] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, an apparatus 1 for producingcontainers 2 is shown suitable for distributing in a controlled manner aproduct 3 contained therein.

[0048] The apparatus 1 comprises a plurality of stations through which afirst film 4 and a second film 5 of thermo-formable material are indexedalong an advancing direction shown by the arrow F, said first film 4 andsecond film 5 being progressively unwound from a not shown reel.

[0049] The above-mentioned stations comprise a pre-heating station 6 inwhich heating means 6 a, 6 b, 6 c soften the film so prearranging thefilm for the next stages of the working cycle.

[0050] Downstream of the pre-heating station 6, a welding station 7 isprovided in which welding mould means 8 comprising a first weldinghalf-mould 8 a and a second welding half-mould 8 b, movable so as to beable to mutually approach and move away, as shown by the arrows F1 andF2, interact with the first film 4 and the second film 5 in order toobtain therefrom a plurality of pre-forms 9 of containers welded alongrespective peripheral edges.

[0051] Downstream of the welding station 7, a forming station 10 isarranged comprising forming mould means 11 provided with a first forminghalf-mould 11 a and a second forming half-mould 11 b arranged fortightening on the pre-forms 9, being moved along the direction shown bythe arrows F3 and F4, in order to form the containers 2.

[0052] Downstream of the forming station 10, a filling station, notshown, is provided, in which the product 3 is introduced into thecontainers 2.

[0053] Finally, downstream of the filling station, a sealing station,not shown, is provided in which the containers 2, filled with theproduct 3, are sealed; a separating station, not shown, is also providedin which the filled and sealed containers 2 are separated from theundeformed portions of the first film 4 and the second film 5, whichkeep the containers 2 mutually joined.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 2, pipe means 12 is obtained in the weldingmould means 8 and in the forming mould means 11, suitable for allowing aforming fluid to be introduced into the welding mould means 8 and theforming mould means 11 through an inlet 12 a.

[0055] In particular, the forming fluid, when introduced into thewelding mould means 8, causes slight deformations of the first film 4and the second film 5, so allowing to obtain the pre-forms 9; this isachieved owing to the limited depth of the cavities 8 c with which thefirst half-mould 8 a and the second half-mould 8 b are provided.

[0056] In the forming mould means 11, on the contrary, the forming fluidblows the pre-forms 9 until bringing the first film 4 and the secondfilm 5 in contact with the walls of the cavities 11 c, 11 d of theforming mould means 11, so obtaining the finished containers 2.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 4, the first forming half-mould 11 a and thesecond forming half-mould 11 b have respectively a shaped region 13 anda further shaped region 13 a, arranged for forming distributing valvemeans 14 in the containers 2.

[0058] The first forming half-mould 11 a comprises a region 13 havingsubstantially the shape of a truncated cone, whereas the second forminghalf-mould 11 b comprises initially a region 13 a having the shape of acylinder and then a protruding element 19 suitable for forming in saiddistributing valve means 14 a suitable narrowing of the internal sectionof the distributing valve means 14.

[0059] With reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, a container 2 is shown comprisinga container body 2 a suitable for receiving a fluid product 3 anddistributing valve means 14 arranged for controlling outflow of thefluid 3 from the container 2, in particular for preventing the product 3from being poured from the container 2 when no external pressure isapplied on the walls of the body 2 a.

[0060] The distributing valve means 14 comprises pipe means 15 obtainedby properly deforming the first film 4 and the second film 5 so as togive a “S”-like shape to the pipe means. Thus, the pipe means 15comprises in succession, a first curved portion 25 and a second curvedportion 26, the first curved portion and said second curved portionhaving respective centres of curvature C1, C2 placed at opposite sidesof said pipe means 15.

[0061] Such pipe means 15 has a decreasing section departing from thebody 2 a and defines a curvilinear path 21 for the fluid 3.

[0062] The pipe means 15 comprises outflow preventing means 16 for thefluid 3 comprising capillary means 17 obtained by remarkably reducingthe section of the distributing valve means 14 at its end section.

[0063] The pipe means 15 is crossed by opening indicating means 23consisting for example of a preferred notching or cutting line alongwhich the container may be opened by tearing, or by removing a strip 24of the container, so allowing outflow of product 3 from the pipe means15.

[0064] Such reduction of the section of the pipe means 15 is obtained bydeforming the second film 5 so as to obtain a concave portion 18extending into a respective concave portion 20 obtained from said firstfilm 4. The concave portion 18 has a substantially dome-shaped profileso as to define capillary means 17 extending along the above-mentionedcurvilinear path 21.

[0065] The capillary means 17 is therefore obtained by reducing thedistance between the first film 4 and the second film 5, which, however,never lie in mutual contact.

[0066] The outflow preventing means 16 works according to the principlesdescribed hereinafter: first of all; when a user releases the body 2 a,at the end of the distribution of the product 3, a suction effect takesplace which causes a bubble of air of limited dimension to be trapped inthe curvilinear path 21, defined by the capillary means 17, sopreventing outflow of further product 3. If the aforesaid bubble of air,being attracted by the vacuum pressure present in the container 2,penetrates into the body 2 a, clearing the capillary means 17, the fluid3 starts to flow towards the outside of the container 2 without beingable to reach the outside as it is kept by friction on the walls of thecapillary means 17 until any further advancing is prevented.

[0067] The length and the area of the capillary means 17 may be variedaccording to the viscosity of the product 2, so allowing the outflowpreventing means 16 to perform effectively the function of controllingdistribution of product having viscosity belonging to a wide range.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 8; the curvilinear path 21 may also have, in aportion thereof extending towards the outlet of the container, a region22 in which a widening of section takes place.

1. Container, comprising container body means (2 a) arranged forcontaining a fluid product (3) and pipe means (15) arranged forcontrolling distribution of said product (3) from said container (2),characterized in that, said pipe means (15) defines a non-rectilinearpath (21) for said product (3), said path (21) extending alongsubstantially progressively decreasing sections of said pipe means (15).2. Container according to claim 1, wherein said pipe means (15)comprises a first concave portion (20) and a second concave portion (18)extending into said first concave portion (20) for defining saidnon-rectilinear path (21).
 3. Container, comprising container body means(2 a), arranged for containing a fluid product (3) in an interiorthereof, and an outlet for said product (3) from said container bodymeans (2 a), characterized in that, said container body means (2 a)comprises a recess (18) extending towards said interior.
 4. Containeraccording to claim 3, wherein said container (2) comprises a firstconcave portion (20) suitable for receiving said recess (18). 5.Container according to claim 4, wherein said recess comprises a secondconcave portion (18).
 6. Container according to claim 5, wherein saidfirst portion (20) and said second portion (18) are obtained in pipemeans (15) of said container means (2) defining said outlet. 7.Container according to claim 6, wherein said first concave portion (20)and said second concave portion (18) define a non-rectilinear path (21)in said pipe means (15).
 8. Container according to claim 6, or 7,wherein said non-rectilinear path (21) extends along substantiallyprogressively decreasing sections of said pipe means (15).
 9. Containeraccording to claim 2, or according to any one of claims 4 to 8, whereinsaid first portion (20) is obtained in first thermoformable sheet means(4).
 10. Container according to claim 2, or according to any one ofclaims 5 to 8, or according to claim 9 as appended to any one of claims5 to 8, wherein said second portion (18) is obtained in secondthermoformable sheet means (5).
 11. Container according to claim 2, oraccording to any one of claims 5 to 8, or according to claim 9 asappended to any one of claims 5 to 8, or according to claim 10, whereinsaid second portion (18) has a dome-shaped profile.
 12. Containeraccording to claim 1, or 2, or according to claim 7, or 8, or accordingto any one of claims 9 to 11 as appended to claims 7, or 8, whereinsaid, non-rectilinear path (21) has a curvilinear extension. 13.Container according to claim 12, wherein said curvilinear extensioncomprises, in succession, a first curved portion (25) and a secondcurved portion (26), said first curved portion (25) and said secondcurved portion (26) having respective centres of curvature (C1, C2)arranged at opposite sides of said pipe means (15).
 14. Containeraccording to claim 1, or 2, or 6, or 7, or according to any one ofclaims 8 to 13 as appended to claim 6, wherein said pipe means (15) istransversally crossed by opening indicating means (23).
 15. Containeraccording to claim 14, as appended to claim 2, or to claim 6, or 7, orto any one of claims 8 to 13 as appended to claim 6, wherein saidopening indicating means (23) crosses a region of said pipe means (15)farther from said container body means (2 a) than said first portion(20) and said second portion (18).
 16. Apparatus for producingcontainers (2), comprising thermoforming means (6, 8, 11) arranged forthermoforming first sheet means (4) and second sheet means (5) ofthermoformable material for obtaining said containers (2), characterizedin that said thermoforming means (6, 8, 11) comprises forming mouldmeans (11) arranged for obtaining in said containers (2) pipe means (15)having a non-rectilinear path (21) suitable for preventing product fromundesirably flowing out after opening.
 17. Apparatus according to claim16, wherein said forming mould means (11) comprises first half-mouldmeans (11 a) arranged for obtaining in said pipe means (15) a firstconcave portion (20) and second half-mould means (11 b) arranged forobtaining in said pipe means (15) a second concave portion (18) suitablefor extending into said first portion (20).
 18. Apparatus according toclaim 17, wherein said first half-mould means (11 a) comprises cavitymeans (11 c) arranged for deforming said first film means (4) forobtaining said first portion (20).
 19. Apparatus according to claim 17,or 18, wherein said second half-mould means (11 b) comprises aprotruding element (19) arranged for deforming said second film means(5) for obtaining said second portion (18).
 20. Apparatus according toclaim 19, wherein said protruding element (19) has a dome-shapedprofile.
 21. Apparatus for producing containers (2), comprisingthermoforming means (6, 8, 11) arranged for thermoforming thermoformablesheet material (4, 5) for obtaining said containers (2), characterizedin that said thermoforming means comprises forming mould means (11)provided with a protruding element (19) arranged for deforming saidthermoformable sheet material (4, 5).
 22. Apparatus according to claim21, wherein said protruding element (19) is shaped so as to form in saidcontainers (2) a recess extending towards an interior of said containers(2).
 23. Apparatus according to claim 21, or 22, wherein said formingmould means (11) comprises first half-mould means (11 a) arranged fordeforming first sheet means (4) of said thermoformable material forobtaining a first concave portion (20) suitable for receiving saidrecess.
 24. Apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 23, whereinsaid forming mould means (11) comprises second half-mould means (11 b)arranged for deforming second sheet means (5) of said thermoformablematerial for obtaining in said recess a second concave portion (18). 25.Apparatus according to claims 23 and 24, wherein said forming mouldmeans (11) form said first portion (20) and said second portion (18) inpipe means (15) of said container means (2) so as to define in said pipemeans (15) a non-rectilinear path (21) for said product (3) suitable forpreventing said product (3) from undesirably flowing out after opening.26. Apparatus according to any one of claims 21 to 25, wherein saidprotruding element (19) has a dome-shaped profile.
 27. Apparatusaccording to any one of claims 16 to 26, wherein said forming mouldmeans (11) is arranged in a forming station (10).
 28. Apparatusaccording to any one of claims 16 to 27, wherein said thermoformingmeans (6, 8, 11) further comprises welding mould means (8) arranged forinteracting with said first film means (4) and said second film means(5) for obtaining pre-forms (9) of container welded along respectiveperipheral edges.
 29. Apparatus according to claim 28, as appended toclaim 27, wherein said welding mould means (8) is arranged in a weldingstation (7) placed upstream of said forming station (10).
 30. Apparatusaccording to claim 29, and further comprising, upstream of said weldingstation (7), a pre-heating station (6) for said first film means (4) andsecond film means (5).
 31. Apparatus according to claim 27, or accordingto claim 28 as appended to claim 27, or according to claim 29, oraccording to claim 30, and further comprising, downstream of saidforming station (10), a filling station in which said product (3) isintroduced into said containers (2) and a sealing station in which thefilled containers (2) are sealed.
 32. Apparatus according to claim 31,and further comprising, downstream of said sealing station, a separatingstation in which said containers (2) are separated from undeformedportions of said first film means (4) and said second film means (5).33. Method for producing containers (2), comprising thermoformingthermoformable sheet material (4, 5) for defining in said containers (2)container body means (2 a) arranged for containing a fluid product (3)and pipe means (15) arranged for controlling distribution of saidproduct (3) from said containers (2), characterized in that saidthermoforming comprises defining in said pipe means (15) anon-rectilinear path (21) suitable for preventing the product fromundesirably flowing out after opening.
 34. Method according to claim 33,wherein said defining comprises deforming first film means (4) of saidsheet material for obtaining in said pipe means (15) a first concaveportion (20).
 35. Method according to claim 33, or 34, wherein saiddefining comprises deforming second film means (5) of said sheetmaterial for obtaining in said pipe means (15) a second concave portion(18).
 36. Method according to claim 35 as appended to claim 34, whereinbefore said thermoforming thermo-welding said first film means (4) tosaid second film means (5) is provided for obtaining pre-forms (9) ofcontainer joined along respective peripheral edges.
 37. Method accordingto claim 36, wherein before said thermo-welding heating (6) said firstfilm means (4) and said second film means (5) is provided.
 38. Methodaccording to any one of claims 33 to 37, wherein after saidthermoforming introducing said product (3) through suitable openings ofsaid containers (2) is provided.
 39. Method according to claim 38,wherein after said introducing sealing said containers (2) is providedfor closing said openings.
 40. Method according to claim 39, whereinafter said sealing separating said containers (2) from undeformedportions of said sheet material (4, 5) is provided.